Well as you can see the durn thing works! Kinda.
When I got there this mourning I found JRBenny2 in his usual position. There was a few wires that needed to get connected.
After we got John to the topside, I managed to get a 100 car train out on the red line. This is my usual test train to find all the
ski jumps and slipped rail joiners that can cause problems the rest of the week. I made a few track repairs and module adjustments
and got the train running smooth.
Here's Mr Benny in his natural environment.
After a few more laps on the red line, I decided to test one of the reasons for the new why; to be able to take a long train
up to the mountain line in one string. After coming in the yard from red, I switched to green and headed up the hill.
Here's the train with 4 IM FTs and 110 cars at the base of the grade. It's stretched down around the 18' of yard and around the Ladder loop.That's the caboose to the right of the engines and
GNTrains (Tom T) checking the progress
Here's the train at the top of the yard ramp and crossing onto the why. The bulkhead flat behind the power has a line level glued to it. It makes a good tool for finding track that needs to be
adjusted. Also, note the pretty Christmas Lights on the control panel. Al T. certainly had the spirit (or Spirits) when building this. The green indicate track routing and turnout positions.
Eventually when John and Al get tired of standing upright and seeing the topside of the layout, they will hook up our 3 track (Vic Fitzpatrick) multiple head signal system, which will show operators
routing from outside the layout.
Here's the train stretched out up the hill and around the corner. Pete Sanchez's Grandson Ryan is checking progress as a really useful engine waits in the hole.
the top of the grade is just under Ryan's right hand.
Here's the head end going through my corner module while Pete watches an 80 car UP reefer train test the outer main siding.
Sorry no pics of the Turbine on the head end.
Here's the train heading across the why from corner to corner while show guests look on. I managed to fix a few issues on the mountain line and ran up there
for about an hour. Pizza cutters, code 80 and a portable layout, the guests only like the long trains running, like the Honey Badger, they don't give a $%#&.
And here we are heading downgrade into the yard with John (in a vertical position) shows his approval. I'm heading for those two empty tracks on the west side
of the yard while two trains wait to enter and two trains wait to leave. I thought I would be cool and do a "Flying Five Finger Dutch Drop" to double my train on the two
tracks. Ya know, just show off a little. Ooops. misjudged a little and string lined 80 70t hoppers around the Ladder loop delaying the 4 trains. I did not put "Flying Five Finger Dutch Drop"
in the delay report to the Div Supt.!
So yes, it works. One problem we will have to address is that the throw wires on the Tortoise switch machines needs to be stronger.
Some of the turnouts won't throw completely against the stock rails. We did manage to adjust them so they didn't cause trouble, they
still need to be fixed. I'm not looking forward to that.
Hey, everyone that has been following along, thanks for looking in on our progress. I know Ntrak is not for everyone, but I thought there might be
some useful things to share.
After this show, we have about 6 weeks before the UNW show in Monroe, and we hope to have at least some of the scenery done.
I'll post some photos as we progress.
Thanks again for tuning in.
Greg O.
